December 2011

State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford’s Legislation and Activities in Improving Health

 Improving Access to Good Nutrition

·         Introduced legislation that became law establishing the Farmers’ Market Technology Improvement Program Act, which helps people use their LINK cards (Food Stamps) at Farmers’ Markets (Public Act 096-1088)

·         Chief House Sponsor for successful legislation that amends the Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act to establish an electronic database to facilitate the purchase of fresh produce and food products by schools (Public Act 096-1095)

·         Chief House Sponsor for legislation that became law requiring the State Board of Education to develop and maintain a nutrition and physical activity best practices database (Public Act 096-1223)

·         Introduced legislation (97^th GA – HB1600) to ban trans fats in foods served by food facilities – passed the House, defeated in the Senate

·         Sponsors Austin Holiday Food Drive, collecting 10,000 items for local food pantries in 2010

·         Promoted Healthy Eating as part of Black History Month at a local grocery store, Leamington Foods

Fighting Childhood Obesity

·         Member of Community Action Team for Healthier Kids (CATH-K), a coalition of 20 organizations working to decrease childhood obesity in Oak Park, River Forest, and Forest Park

·         Member of the External Advisory Board for Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC)

·         Since 2008, commemorating the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, has sponsored the Family Health Challenge Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for elementary and junior high students in efforts to combat childhood obesity – more than 400 students participate.  Has been held in Chicago, Berwyn and Oak Park.  The 5^th Annual Health Challenge will be Saturday, January 21, 2012 at Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory High School, Chicago

Community Health Education

·         Sponsors community health fairs in conjunction with Circle Family HealthCare Network, Concerned Organization Who Cares, St. Catherine-St. Lucy, and local aldermen

·         Sponsored “What’s Killing Us?” Community Health Fair during Black History Month in association with American Heart Association, Circle Family Health Care Network, Loretto Hospital, TACTS, Black Nurses Association, American Cancer Society, ChildServ, Chicago Department of Health, and IDPH

·         Speaker, “Update on LINK cards at Farmers Markets”, Green Town 2011, Oak Park

·         Active with Building a Healthier Chicago, promoting and participating in the Walk Across Austin

·         Featured Panelist, Illinois Action for Children Community Forum on Childhood Obesity, Broadview

·    Sponsors blood drives in Chicago, Oak Park and Berwyn, partnering with LifeSource, St. Martin de Porres, the Southeast Oak Park Community Organization, and the Combined Veterans of Berwyn

·         Introduced legislation that became law establishing the Lupus Education and Awareness Program within the Illinois Department of Public Health (Public Act 096-1108)

·         Active with Building a Healthier Chicago, promoting and participating in the Walk Across Austin

Preventing and Treating HIV

·         Introduced landmark legislation that became law which makes it easier and less intrusive for patients to be routinely tested for HIV in health care settings while preserving the rights of those being tested (Public Act 095-0007)

·         Introduced and passed House Resolution 0065 (96^th GA) urging the Department of Public Health to establish a comprehensive plan to slow the spread of HIV/AIDS by the year 2010

·         Discussed public policy issues with experts at 2008 International AIDS Conference, Mexico City

·         Introduced legislation that became law to update state statutes so the most up-to-date supplemental testing is done to confirm a preliminary positive HIV test (Public Act 097-0244)

·         Introduced legislation that became law so all CD-4 counts and HIV viral loads are reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health to improve the care of patients with HIV (Public Act 097-0550)           

Expanding Access to Health Care

·         Early in the debate about national health care reform, introduced and passed House Resolution 0569 (96^th GA) urging the President and Congress to enact comprehensive health care reform

·         Went to Washington, D.C. in July 2009 to lobby Illinois’ congressional delegation to advance health care reform efforts

·         Leader in the successful fight to continue state funding to support University of Illinois-Chicago Sickle Cell Anemia Clinic

Improving Mental/Behavioral Health Care

·         Promotes equity in coverage for behavioral health care

·         Working with the Adler School of Professional Psychology and its Institute of Social Exclusion and Mental Health Impact Assessment tool, looking at the impact of public decisions and actions (e.g. legislation, policies, projects) on community mental health and well-being

·         Received the 2010 Legislator of the Year award from Thrive Counseling Center, Oak Park

Other Health-Related Activities

·         Introduced and passed House Resolution 0468 (97^th GA) urging that social justice be the guiding principle in decision-making in the House of Representatives.

·         Chief House Sponsor for legislation that became law requiring the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to establish the Long Term Acute Care Hospital Quality Improvement Transfer Program, to improve quality in hospitals (Public Act 096-1130)

·         Previous Member, Board of Directors, Circle Family HealthCare Community Health Center, Chicago

State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford’s Future Legislation and Activities in Public Health

Illinois Health Insurance Exchange

·         Encourages a strong exchange to provide a competitive health insurance marketplace for small businesses and individuals

·         Potential meetings with Citizen Action for community education

·         Implications of changes to Illinois Medicaid program

·         Evaluation of current formulation of a “medical home”

·         Ensure that IDPH monitors whether improved health insurance coverage actually leads to better access to care and to better health status; in particular, looking at co-payments and medication formulary restrictions

Health Advisory Council

·         Advising Rep. Ford on issues

·         Offering input on health issues before the House

·         Rep. Ford keeping members abreast of pending health-related legislation

·         Sponsoring Future Town Halls or Policy Fora

Other Specific Health Issues

·         Access to dental care for persons without insurance  2011-09

"Of all the forms of inequalities, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane."   Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Provided Information about Medicare Part D to community members

1. CLTV broadcast

2. Mailer to all constituent homes

Advocates for improved discharge procedures at the Illinois Department of  Corrections so persons have adequate medications and follow-up care

Improving Health Photo Gallery